booting the computer (4)

There’s a special key in every BIOS (when the computer first boots) that makes you able to boot from another device that is not its hard disk.

You can either enter in the bios to configure the boot order or to hit the key that selects the device to boot “only this time”, the second option is suggested.

In short, you simply need to turn ON your computer, then immediately press multiple times the F’ key that a message should tell you something like “boot menu” until a menu appears, then just select the device which you want to boot from (the one that contains Elive in your USB or DVD).

This special F’ key is normally F12 in Acer computers and ESC in the Asus ones, you can try all the F’ keys or better search which F is in a list like here, other common F’s are F10, F2, F1 and F8

Make sure to...

You have used the tools that we suggest to use for record Elive on it, most of the “bootable maker tools” changes the internal structure of the system, which is not reliable most of the times (and in a very small cases it can help you to make to boot it)

Your computer doesn’t ship with Microsoft Windows 8 or bigger, see the Cause 3 for this problem

Your computer is not a Chromebook, see Cause 4

If these solutions fails, try to upgrade your BIOS firmware

Cause 1: Hardware Problem

One of the biggest causes to not be able to boot from USB is because the USB medium itself, the quality on how they are made and how internally works can affect a lot, for example there’s some memory sticks that are slower to startup, and so since the BIOS has a limited time to recognize them, if they don’t show up in the limited time the bios timeouts and skips it.

Solution

Try with various USB sticks, they are cheap, and use common trademarks

Don’t try to make the computer directly recognize and boot it, instead, pick the “Fx” option that shows up the menu to select from which device to boot from, on that way you give more time to the USB to be initialized and you make sure that the system will try to boot from it since it is meant to be listed.

Cause 2: Unrecognized Bootable formats

The correct way to boot an USB is with the “USB HDD” mode (bios), but some bioses are simply unable to read the filesytems, even if Elive uses a very compatible partition structure by putting the bootable files in a fat16 partition, some bios makes the bootable sectors not being recognized and so unable to boot the device

Solution

The solution is simple: If you used the .img files (USB images), try to use the .iso files instead (DVD images), they are built in hybrid mode so are recognized like an emulated cdrom from USB, in short:

the 90% of computers are able to boot the USB images, while the 80% of them are able to boot from the DVD ones (independently), and there’s a 30% of these problematic computers that only can boot one or the other.

Cause 3: Windows is f!#!%$$$ again...

Again another monopol tactic by microsh1t, this time was a painful play, they simply prohibited any computer to boot any system that is not theirs, with the simple excuse that is not a verified system, they called it “secure boot“, but who is the authority behind that certify’s that a system is trusted or not? them, of course, and what you need to do? just pay a good amount of money so that they can sign your files making the computer accept your system to be able to boot… And you cannot simply remove your windows or change your hard disk with a new one, because they simply implemented this in the machine itself, good play sadists…

Solution

Not all the chances are lost, fortunately by law they are simply not allowed to prohibit a computer to boot the system that the user wants. So you need to enter in special configurations to disable these options, but for that you can found much better articles on internet, but in short you need to:

Cause 4: Chromebooks

A Chromebook is a normally a pretty nice laptop worth of the price, unfortunately they are lock to be used only with their useless ChromeOS system, unless you are able to unlock them! but to unlock them is even a more hard task than removing the secure boot from windows (they are not good doing things even when wants to do bad), for a chromebook you even need to open it! scary huh? In any case I can tell you that it worked without problems in an Acer C720 that personally tried, a pretty nice device for its price including touchscreen and nice speakers. If you try to unlock it I don’t suggest you to try some hacks, but instead to unlock it entirely from the hardware and changing the bios.

Solution

Is better to search yourself the info in google for your specific models, but I can at least give you good articles about it:

A magical solution for old computers that cannot boot from USB...

Since the Elive 2.0 Topaz version there’s a special boot parameter that makes you to be able to boot from USB from any kind of computer in the world! promised!

It consist in a very simple trick implemented in the internal code, you just need to add to the boot options the changedevice parameter, and when the system boots, it will ask you to insert the USB, then you just need to remove the cdrom / dvd and press Enter to continue, it will continue booting then from the USB contents since it has already loaded the internal kernel and module drivers, nice trick! don’t you think?

This can be due to multiple reasons, just make sure that Elive is correctly installed, I can also suggest to use the automated partitioning mode, which will remove all your disk contents but should take the best choices for your system.

If you still cannot boot your computer then you may have a very bad BIOS, I have seen this before and it is the reason that there was added (since the version 2.4.6) a special option in the booting of the live-mode of Elive which allows you to boot from your hard disks (from the Advanced menu of the first Boot on Live mode)

Notes about my specific experience: In my personal case seems like the bios thinks that the main disk is the secondary disk, but there’s no secondary disk at all and so the bios (the computer itself) is simply unable to start booting the disk, so using those options I just need to select “boot from my secondary disk” and it is able to boot correctly, it is of course not the best way to do it but at least this computer is able to work, suspension instead of shutdown can help too. In any case I’m 90% convinced that if he reset the bios (loading default settings didn’t worked) could make the bios read again the correct identifiers of the disks and work back, but to open the entire computer and search for the switch requires time, maybe upgrading the bios can help too, if there’s any update at all.

installing (1)

If you are a defender of the free software but you think that Elive is not free, you must know better what are you defending, you can start from here. Free software has no relation with gratis, please read this explanation from gnu.org. You need to know also that due to this confusion of terms, the word free softwarehas changed to open source software in 1998. In short, free has no relation with cost, at all.

The payment is required to pay the development of Elive, the involved 14-hours per day of work from Developer ‘Thanatermesis’, to pay some extra development (whenever is possible to) and of course also all the hosting and related services. Think that more amount of money is made and the more better Elive can be. Unfortunately the reality shows that the amount received is not even enough for living, its not worth at all of the work, and Elive still exist since more than 10 years ago.

But anyways, if you are not happy with this, why you simply worry about? nobody forces you to use Elive, so if you think that the (small) payment is not worth, why just don’t skip and search a more worth distro? Ok, ok… maybe you -really- want to use Elive but still really not want to pay for it, but think on this very simple thing: If was not because of the payment, the development of Elive would have been stopped since 2006, where was decided to search a real job for living or trying to live from Elive, so at least you have the option, instad of not having it at all.

Final note: if you want to live in a non-capitalist world where is not needed to pay taxes or to pay for software, make a look to the venus project, it proposes a concept similar to the open source applied to the society, a civilization without monetary system, I would really like to live on this world and make Elive entirely for pleasure without request money, and happier to know that on this way more people would enjoy using it… unfortunately, I open the eyes and Im stuck in a capitalism system, but seriously: If you really don’t understand the need of the payment, then I must say… “don’t use Elive!”, basically because nobody obliges you to use it and because you don’t like it as the way it exist, so why to lost time complaining? if you really think that Elive is not worth of the minimal requirement, why just don’t ignore it? I don’t want to monopolize the world with Elive, I do not care at all if you use it or not, so just use anything that you want, you have thousands of alternatives, you have the choice.

Elive Websites

Special Versions

Other Links

I must admit, I tried many linux and was about to give up, the problems about drivers, bugs, freezing so on, but I heard about Elive, I though I might as well give linux another chance, and I am glad I did! Its the only OS i need, and the only one I want :) Thank you, I am glad I donated, it was worth it.-Masterizaak-

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Elive is (by far!) the most RAM efficient and less resources consumption system that I have ever used!-Ruben Bilbao-

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I tried this system and it saved me from trash an old computer, highly recommended-Alejandro-

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When I first tried Elive I was skeptical. I was used to Ubuntu and Suse. However when I first installed Elive on an old computer, I loved its look and feel. Surprisingly it was an easy to use interface. I immediately installed it on my PC and it works great!-Colin-

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Elive adds a refreshing look to what ever pc it runs on. It's component parts work well and installation is a breeze. The live disc includes more than just the essentials, having a broad range of desktop applications elive is a fast lane into modern media editing and recreation.-Andy Page-

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Thanks for give a new usage to my old laptop, I tried other systems and Elive works wonderfully in my Pentium II-Guipabo-

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I have been considering Elive for quite some time. I have tried a lot of linux distros and always come back to Elive. The user interface is stunning. The functionality is exceptional. This is the OS that is convincing me to switch from Windows. Great job guys!-JP Blanc-

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Some distros are set up like a house decorated for it's cover shot and photo spread. Elive is like a home that someone lives in. Users will discover the many subtle details only after living with Elive for a while.-Eight bit al-

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I waited a long time for this. a Linux project to get renewed older hardware with a good desktop experience. Thanks to this i use an old laptop with great satisfaction for general purposes.-Joe101-

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The best os i've ever used, converted me from windows, many thanks!-Tony-

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My old Toshiba "Satellite 4030CDT" laptop suddenly looks and feels like a moderncomputer thanks to Elive.-Altwan-

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I don't know what specifically you did, but I tried 10 different linux systems prior to attempting Elive and is the first time that my external hard disk was recognized correctly. I love you guys for it. You saved all my data! Thanks!-jxn-

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I wanted to try Elive for its stability, I don't wanted to continue installing new versions each 6 months or to use minimalistic systems which lacks features or applications. With Elive I found my perfect system for my computer.-Antonio Bazán Sánchez-

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Elive will be the choice of present generation.- Srikar -

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When I first looked at Elive I thought it looked very interesting, but I did not realize what a surprise I was in for! This Beautiful OS astounded me! I had no words for it! It competes with the likes of any other system I have ever used, And I have used every other popular OS's out there today!-Daniel Lapain-

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Today I can tell you that there's a linux system that is really intuitive, beautiful and powerful, just like the author's says it is art, this wonder is called Elive 2.0-Ruben Velasco Jaimes-

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Elive was the only way to convince my childrens to use Linux, from all the other systems that I have tried they prefered to use Windows XP. Now they are fans of Elive! (Note: they have 5, 7 and 9 years old). Excellent work, Congratulations!-Fito-

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My family is basically Microsoft oriented. The wife and kids have always been hesitant about experimenting with Linux, of any flavor. My youngest son (age 15) simply fell in love with Elive.-Runaway1956-

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To the creators behind this awesome distro, please allow me to congratulate you and give you my thanks, for creating this unique piece of software.
Elive is fast, super fast, freaking fast, is a gem.
Thank you!!!!!-Joe101-

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I deal with free software and OS's for about two years and I must say I was really surprised when I tested for the first time Elive, it worked better than ANY Linux distro, and was even lighter (and more beautiful) than advanced systems. This distro is awesome, you really got to test to understand.-Felipe Magnus Gil-

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With Elive I was able to revive an old PC I had, give the functions that I never thought possible in a totally efficient way. Elive is a fully recommended amazing system.-Gecko-

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I have worked with a lot of operating systems, to say that Elive is an exceptional work is not enough, good job!-Enrique Fröhlich-

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Elive has exceeded my expectations, is fast, robust, simple, intuitive, easy, and also elegant. Based in Debian and polished in every detail, its a fantastic dreamed experience for every user since the installation.-Walter Bob-

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Truly a very nice system, simple and powerful, able to satisfy the most demanding user. Congratulations!-Ruben Velasco-

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Elive saved my PC, it is now running like new and with lots of features. Everything works straight out of the box and is elegant and easy to use. Thank you Elive!!! You deserve much more recognition!-Thomas-

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This is so far the most advanced Linux system that I know, I decided to work with it because is so powerful, little need of resources and extraordinary design. Is pure art.-Antonio-

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Elive is definitely a system that goes beyond the barriers of creativity in the software industry with great flexibility and highly intuitive interface-Argel-

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Hi, I Just want to say that this is the first software that I wanted to donate for :)
Thank you very much!-Luliu-

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Elive 2.0 is a very good Linux system. I am very happy to use it for my work and for my PhD in Aerospace Eng! I don't want to change with Ubuntu or another distro and I have all the applications for my studies. This is for me Linux!-Corrado-

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I have just installed the stable release and I completely love elive!!
It's fast, responsive and very very pretty!!
I will recommend this Linux flavour to all friends and family.-Jorge Gascón Pérez-

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I have traveled a lot in the selection of the adequate system, a total of 36 systems tried, and Elive is exceptionally divine-Christian rG. ITBSW-

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I'd just like to say a big thankyou to the developers who put together one of the nicest user experiences I've ever come across.- The Leander -

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I spend a lot of time in front of my computer, tired of windows, i was looking for a user experience that bring me far away from the Gnome or KDE one. Truly, elive responds to all my needs.-Dader-

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Super! This system is MUCH FASTER than XP or Vista. It runs really great and stable. In addition, it looks great! My girlfriends want to install Elive now.-Lillith Eva-

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It's simply the better and the most beautiful operating system that i ever used.-Cédric BLONDEAU-

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It is the best and fastest linux distribution, combining speed, functionality and appearance on a perfect way.-Marcelo-

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One of the best things i ever tested!!! So fast and smooth, its my dream OS. I have a P4 with 512mb and runs very fast, and i dont even installed it!!!!
Windows Vista? 1GB for optimal performance?? NOT!-vitalf-

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This is one of the only "different" distros that is also fully featured and ready to use out of the box (you know what I mean....) elive Gem also works with my wireless card that isn't supported with UBUNTU anymore (typing from elive now). Its all looking very good!!-Michael j-king-

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With Elive I can do everything that I need: internet, multimedia, work. Grazie-Urdnaxela-

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Elive Gem 1.0 runs fast on a centrino 1.3 with 256 mb ram, overperforms ubuntu on a similar machine (1.4 512meg ram) by around 200%-Nevermore-

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Elive is, simply put, the best operating system for new users on old computers I've ever seen! It has better performance than any other LiveCD I've ever seen!-William W.-

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Impressive! Finally a useful distro, stable and good taste in design.-Fito Larsen-

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My humble pc became in an incredible graphics experience, high performance and low resource consumption.-Pablo-

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Elive has been installed on my PC for several months now. Everything works, it's fast and intuitive.-Blighty-

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I needed a Linux distro for my Compaq v2000 as Win XP took too long to do anything. Elive fits the bill. My computer now has a new life and is very snappy now. Great job!-RJMenard-

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I've been using Linux for a few months now. As every newbie I have installed and toyed with many distros in that time and Elive is the only one that I've always keep in my machine.-Ruben Bilbao-

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If everything worked as well as Elive, there would be no more problems on earth !-Gilles-

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I first tried Elive in an old computer and I was surprised how fast it worked, but later I bring it on my school and I was surprised by the visual effects and how nice they worked.-Sebastián Zambrano-